The Charity Commission has opened a statutory inquiry into Al-Fatiha Global.

The inquiry is investigating serious concerns about the governance and financial management of the charity.

The Commission had been monitoring the charity since 2013, and the inquiry, which is the most serious level of the regulator’s investigatory work, opened on 21 March 2014.

The charity’s objects are to relieve sickness by providing free clinics for the people of northern Pakistan and to provide humanitarian aid globally in areas disrupted by conflict and natural disaster. Its activities include organising and participating in convoys to Syria.

The regulator says it is investigating:

Whether the trustees are effectively discharging their duties under charity law with particular regard to the proper accounting for the income and expenditure of the charity, and the management of the charity in accordance with its governing document and the law.

Regulatory issues in connection with reports in the public domain alleging inappropriate links between the charity and individuals purportedly involved in supporting armed or other inappropriate activities in Syria.

It is the Commission's policy, after it has concluded an inquiry, to publish a report detailing what issues the inquiry looked at, what actions were undertaken as part of the inquiry and what the outcomes were.

The Charity Commission has issued regulatory advice under section 15(2) of the Charities Act 2011 to charities about the risks involved in working in conflict zones such as Syria and trustees’ legal duties and responsibilities.

It has been alledged that an Al-Fatiha Global initiative, Aid for Syria Convoy, included trucks named after the terrorist Aafia Siddiqui, who was found guilty in a US court of attempted murder, armed assault, using and carrying a firearm and assault on US personnel.

Earlier this month Al-Fatiha’s top fundraiser, coach firm boss Adeel Ali, was ­allegedly pictured in Syria alongside masked gunmen. He denies the claims.

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